Monday was the last day to register to vote ahead of the upcoming primaries on Aug. 23.

According to the state of Florida’s Office of Economic and demographic research, over 350,000 people moved to Florida in 2021.

For years experts called Florida a “purple state”. In 2018, when Governor Ron DeSantis defeated democrat Andrew Gillum, he won by about 32,000 votes. But, with so many new Florida residents and eligible voters, all election battles may get even more competitive as new voters pour into the state.

Less than 90 minutes before the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office closed for the day, folks like Ian Mooney updated their voter registration cards so he can vote in the primary.

“Obviously there will not be any Libertarians on the ballot,” Orange County resident Mooney said, explaining why he switched his party affiliation. “I think there need to be some big changes in the area that I feel only the Democrats can really do that right now.”

For the last presidential election, there were over 375,000 registered Democrats. This year that number has decreased by about 16,500.

Wayne Gasbarro, who has been a lifelong Democrat, is a newly registered Republican. But the GOP in Orange County is still about 7,000 voters less than from 2020.

“A lot has to do with the border, inflation, healthcare,” the newly registered Republican said. “There are multiple issues across the parameters of what is going on.”

Since 2020, Orange County has lost about 9,300 registered voters. Registrations with no party affiliation made the biggest jump, Increasing their total by about 23,000.​

In Volusia County, Republicans have strengthened their position. From about a 13,000-voter edge over Democrats to now over 30,000.

But in Seminole, it’s the no party affiliation category that’s gaining ground. Both parties in Seminole lost about 3,000 voters, but NPAs gained 6,500.

Robert Davis recently moved from California to Orange County nine months ago. He’s one of the 350,000 new Florida residents who wanted to make sure he could partake in the upcoming primary.

“It was very important. Florida has a reputation for politics,” Robert Davis said after registering. “I wanted to make sure I am part of the process, and do my part to keep our society moving.”

Moooney, Gasbarro, and Davis are now all eligible voters for the parties they hope to help get victories on Nov. 8. But it’s the primary on Aug. 23, where it will begin.

If you did not have time to register to vote today, the next date to know is Oct. 11. That is the deadline to register for the general election on Nov. 8.